Houston Street Fair, band battle finale, much more on tap

The Houston Street Fair & Market is Saturday. If you’ve been following the news, you know this might be one of the last fairs as the popular monthly street party fell victim to cost-cutting and was excluded from the proposed city budget for the next fiscal year. Former Mayor Phil Hardberger’s baby might be going bye bye. So take advantage it still exists. Read my previous post for why I think this event is important.

Saturday, the fair will hosting a car show, with classic cars and hot rods on display. As always, there will be food and live music. And it’s free.

I’ll be at the fair. But at 2 p.m., I’m planting my behind on a bar stool at The Ticket, 420 E. Houston St., to see the McAllister Park Little Leaguers go all Spurs and win the U.S. championship. One of the beauties of The Ticket is that it’s windowed all the way around. Homeless folk usually park themselves on fire hydrants and news stands on Losoya Street to watch their favorite teams on the big screens. I’m predicting there’s gonna be a huge sidewalk crowd wandering over from the fair to see McAllister Park play. Should be a fun afternoon.

Sunset Station’s Summer Sounds at Sunset Finale takes place Friday night. The competition started back in June and has featured various genres of bands competing against each other week after week. Finalists are Peekaboo Theory, 46 and Piñata Protest.

Continue for details on these events and much more. As always, these listings are compiled by the one and only Weekender calendar editor Stefanie Arias, aka “Taking Stefanie.”

Summer Sounds at Sunset Finale Sunset Station, 1174 E. Commerce St., (210) 222-9481. Summer music series and competition concludes and a winner will be announced. Finalists in the series are Peekaboo Theory, 46 and Piñata Protest. Guest performers are Lynette Brehm and Slick Dickens. Doors open at 5 p.m. $5.

“La Imagen de San Antonio” Arneson River Theater, River Walk, (210) 946-4224. Performance is a showcase of song and dance from Mexico and Spain, along with the Latin varieties in the U.S. 7 and 8:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Aug. 29 and Sept. 4-6. $5-$9.

FRIDAY-MONDAY

San Antonio Rose Live Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 212-7638. The historic theater is home to a new classic country music revue, which includes songs such as “Hey Good Lookin’?” and “Is Anybody Going to San Antone” performed by a 10-member band of musicians from Nashville, Branson, Austin and San Antonio. 7 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays-Mondays. $20-$49. Visit www.saroselive.com.

Houston Street Fair & Market Houston and Alamo streets. Monthly fair is held the last Saturday of the month and includes live music, food booths, kids activities and more. This month’s car show will include classic cars and hot rods on display. Noon-6 p.m. Free. www.houstonstreetfair.com

“La Imagen de San Antonio” Arneson River Theater, River Walk, (210) 946-4224. Performance is a showcase of song and dance from Mexico and Spain, along with the Latin varieties in the U.S. 7 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sept. 4-6. $5-$9.

“Psycho Beach Party” Cameo Theater, 1127 E. Commerce St., (210) 472-2636. Chicklet Forrest wants to learn to surf, but strange things are happening on the beach — people are disappearing or turning up strangely altered. Will everything be back to normal in time for the big luau? 10:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Oct. 3 in the Zumbro Lounge. $13-$15.

“Willy Wonka” Magik Children’s Theatre 420 S. Alamo St., (210) 227-2751. The final show of the season is the musical about the greatest candy maker in the world and the children who win a chance to tour his famous factory. 7 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 26. Starting Sept. 8, shows will also be held at 9:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays-Fridays. $2-$10.

Labor Day Arts & Crafts Show River Walk extension between the Alamo Street Bridge and Rivercenter mall, (210) 227-4262. Vendors show and sell unique and handmade merchandise at this annual event. Starts at 11 a.m. Sept. 4 and 10 a.m. Sept. 5-7.

SEPT. 9

James Taylor Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-3333. The famed troubadour and his band play a show indoors in San Antonio for the first time in more than a decade, having played the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in 2003 and 2001. Winners of five Grammys, Taylor was nominated for two more this year for Pop Vocal Album (“Covers”) and Male Pop Vocal for one of its tracks (“Wichita Lineman”). $67.25-$87.25 at Ticketmaster outlets. 8 p.m.

SEPT. 10

Dos Equis Pachanga del Rio River Walk, (210) 227-4262. Ticket holders can sample culinary offerings from 20 participating River Walk establishments, 5-8:30 p.m. A post party with drawings and live music will be held until 11 p.m. $25 in advance; $30 day of event.

SEPT. 11-13

“Madama Butterfly” Municipal Auditorium, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 225-5972 or (800) 982-2787. San Antonio Opera begins its new season with Puccini’s beloved tragedy about a geisha who must decide between an undignified life and an honorable death. (Sung in Italian; English translations projected above the stage). 8 p.m. Sept. 11-12, 2 p.m. Sept. 13. $25-$110 at Ticketmaster outlets.

SEPT. 19-20

Jazz’SALive Travis Park, 300 E. Travis St. Guitars & Saxes (the all-star group that includes Peter White, Gerald Albright and Jeff Lorber), Poncho Sanchez and Joey DeFrancesco will headline the San Antonio Parks Foundation’s annual bash, which merges all types of jazz, from the traditional to the smooth, and all types of performers, regional and national. Starlight Salute gala set for Sept. 18; champagne brunch, Sept. 20. Go to www.saparksfoundation.org. See previous post for complete lineup.

SEPT. 19

“Carmina Burana” Majestic Theater, 224 E, Houston St., (210) 554-1010. San Antonio Symphony celebrates the start of its 70th anniversary season with a performance featuring guest violinist Gil Shaham, along with the symphony’s mastersingers, Children’s Chorus of San Antonio and the University United Methodist Church Choir. 8 p.m. $50-$70 at Ticketmaster outlets.

The Mars Volta Municipal Auditorium, 100 Auditorium Circle, (800) 745-3000. Progressive-rock band that spun off from the beloved At the Drive In plays its first headlining show in San Antonio in support of its new album, “Octahedron.” $27.50-$35 at Ticketmaster outlets. 8 p.m.

“Mamma Mia!” Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-3333. Smash hit musical based on the music of ABBA returns in all its disco-pop glory. Sophie is getting married and wants to invite her father to the wedding. The problem is he’s one of three men from her mother’s past. Sophie invites all three and the fun begins. 8 p.m. Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2 and 8 p.m. Oct. 3, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4. $33-$76 at Ticketmaster outlets. Broadway Across America series continues: